Chemical Engineering (B.S.)

Chemical Engineering (B.S.)

ABOUT

If you find it fascinating how tiny fibers in a bulletproof vest can stop a speeding bullet, or wonder how biofuels are produced, or you simply have a love of science and math, chemical engineering at Clemson combines your two avenues of interest into one exciting course of study. Chemical engineering uses science, math and engineering principles to solve technical problems that face the world today. This major also offers unique research and study abroad opportunities that give you hands-on experience. Working with chemical and biological systems provides the building blocks of advanced materials, a sustainable environment, nanotechnology, biomedical devices and much more. With a degree in chemical engineering you will be making contributions to the development of mankind.

FAST FACTS

More than 20 percent of our undergraduate students participate in some type of research during the school year.

About half of our undergraduate students co-op at companies such as BASF, Dow Chemical, Kimberly-Clark, Michelin, Milliken, Eastman Chemical and General Electric.

You can elect to take your senior-level laboratory course in Vienna, Austria, in the summer.

This degree is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

We have a student-to-faculty ratio of 15-to-1.

The average starting salary for chemical engineering Bachelor of Science graduates is $66,000.

WHAT YOU'LL STUDY

Freshmen who major in engineering at Clemson are initially admitted into our general engineering program, where you’ll have a year to explore many different engineering disciplines, meet faculty from each of our engineering departments and discover which major fits your personal interests and talents. On the admissions application, you will apply as a general engineering major.

Chemical engineering courses include a blend of physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. Combined classroom and laboratory activities provide hands-on learning and small class sizes. To help you further specialize your training, we offer both a concentration in biomolecular engineering and a broad scope of emphasis areas:

Environmental Engineering and Science

Polymeric Materials

Energy Studies

Business Management

Applied Engineering, Mathematics and Science

Biomolecular Science and Engineering

Students also have the flexibility to take a minor (with limited exceptions) instead of an emphasis area.

Biomolecular Engineering Concentration: This concentration addresses the purposeful manipulation of biological molecules and processes applied to problems and issues in the life sciences, biotechnology and medicine. Learn about various biomolecules, biochemical pathway engineering and cell growth.

Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Plan: Get a jump-start on either your Master of Science in chemical engineering or your Master of Science in environmental engineering and science while completing your bachelor’s. In our dual-degree program, you can apply graduate credits to both degrees.

Popular Minors

Similar Majors

EXPERIENCES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

As a chemical engineering major you’ll have numerous outlets for hands-on learning, applying what you’ve already learned to real-world situations and networking with professionals already practicing in the field.

Teamwork

Spend a summer working in research teams to create membranes for protein chromatography, energy storage, CO2 capture and water purification, as well as responsive membranes with switchable surface properties and controllable barrier properties.

Co-op

Our voluntary co-op program creates job opportunities for you when you alternate periods of academic study with periods of related work at a participating business, industry, agency or organization.

Research

Travel

Live in Austria for a summer and “off-load” the demanding senior lab from your senior schedule. Excellent lab facilities provide you with an academically rigorous experience while you develop your research and communication skills.

CONNECT WITH OTHER STUDENTS

AFTER GRADUATION

Your college decision isn't really about the next four years. We get it. It's about what doors are opened by your degree and whether those opportunities are what you had envisioned for yourself. Here's a snapshot of what life after graduation looks like for some of our most recent students.

WHERE OUR RECENT GRADUATES HAVE GONE

KEY

41-100%

21-40%

11-20%

0-10%

RECENT EMPLOYERS

Manufacturing Supervisor

Baxter Healthcare

Nuclear Engineering Officer

U.S. Navy

Process Engineer

Jacobs Engineering Group

Research Engineer

Tetramer Technologies

Production Engineer

The Dow Chemical Co.

Solid State Polymerization Process Engineer

DAK Americas

Engineer

Knight Consulting

RECENT POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

University of Houston

Ph.D. Engineering

University of Florida

Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

M.S. Mathematical Sciences

Clemson University

Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

Georgia Tech

Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

University of Alabama

Ph.D. Chemical Engineering

University of Washington

COMMON CAREER AREAS

Administration

Design and Construction

Project Engineering

Control Systems

Field Engineering

Process Engineering

Operations and Production

Environmental and Waste Management

Development

Design

Production

Sales and Marketing

Management

Consulting

Research and Development

Teaching

Law

Used with permission from the University of Tennessee.

FIND OUT MORE

Have more questions or want more information? Fill out the form below, which goes directly to the following department contact. If you’d also like to receive general University information from Clemson’s admissions office, please follow the link to the right and sign up to join our mailing list.